Spark plug



C GIBILARO Feb. 16, 1932.

III

ll mllllmm SPARK PLUG Filed Sept. 27, 1950 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1932 PATENT OFFICE CALOGERO GIBILARO, 0]! BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SPARK PLUG Application filed September 27, 1980. Serial No. 484,726.

My invention relates to a new and improved spark plug.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a spark plug which shall provide a more intense and effective spark.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spark plug having a gap in which the danger of fouling is minimized or prevented.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spark plug having a gap which comprises two members, one of which is movable relative to the other, said relative movement being accomplished by the vibration of the 15 engine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spark plug having a gap, one of the members of said gap being mounted upon a shaft which is perpendicular to the other 90 member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned in which the spark gap comprises a stationary member or wire, and a movable member which 25 is mounted upon a shaft, said shaft being perpendicular to and being in the same plane as said wire.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spark gap having a movable member 3 which is caused to move by the vibration of the engine, this movement being preferably oscillatory.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spark plug having a protective hood as which will. protect the same against moisture.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodi- 0 ment thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is an elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top view.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

My improvements may be applied to a spark plug of conventional or well known design, although I desire to embody the improvements in the special form shown.

The spark plug 2 has an outer threading 11., and it is provided with a head 9 by means of which the spark plug can be inserted by a wrench or the like. The body 2 is made of any suitable metal. The body 2 is provided with a hoodH which is made of any suitable insulating material, such as insulating fibre, or the like, and this hood H is provided with an externally threaded inner end so that it can be secured within the body 2. The hood H is also provided with a hexagonal flange 8 so that it can be screwed into position by means of a suitable tool.

The spark gap comprises a stationary wire member 1 which is located within a suitable insulating body I. This is made of any well known insulating material. Likewise, gaskets G are provided in order to have the parts fit in a gas-tight manner. The top of the wire 1 is threaded and a nut member 10 is provided to hold the wire 1 in position. The wire 1 is provided with an extension la so that a plurality of spark gaps can be provided. The extension 1a may be omitted, in which case the inner end of the wire 1 will form one electrode of the spark gap in the well known manner.

The other member or electrode W of the spark gap is preferably serrated, and it is made of any suitable metal or conducting material.

The member WV is mounted upon a transverse pin or shaft 4 which is rigidly secured to lugs which are formed in the inner end of the body 2. Spacing sleeves 3 and 3a may be provided, and these spacing sleeves 3 and 30, may be turnable upon the shaft or pin 4.

The member l/V is also freely turnable upon the pin 4.

The opening in the member V may have a diameter which is greater than the thickness of the pin 4, this difference being exaggerated in Fig. 4. 7

Hence, when the motor vibrates, the member WV can also vibrate, and it has a certain predetermined and limited movement with respect to the member 4. Likewise, the member WV may be mounted oficenter on the pin 4. Hence, when the engine vibrates, this causes the member WV to quickly oscillate or vibrate.

The vibration of the engine may also secure the turning or revolution of the member W, especially when the engine is turning at high speed.

However, the vibration of the engine ordinarily causes the member to move up and down, and to oscillate through a relatively small are. As shown in Fig. 4, the member 1a has a periphery which generally conforms to the shape of the periphery of the member Hence the spark passes through all or a substantial portion of this adjacent periphery of the member 1a. When the member V1 is turned to the left of the position shown in Fig. 1, the spark gap is located substantially at the left hand side of the member 1a, and a corresponding result is produced when. the member W is turned to the right or in a counter-clockwise direction, in which case the spark is mainly lo calized at the right hand side of the member 1a, when the member WV ismoved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4, without turning. This causes some of the current to pass from the central portion of the member 10,. Hence, the vertical reciprocating move ment of the member W, and the oscillating movement thereof about the pin l, causes the spark to travel along the periphery of the member 1a, which diminishes fouling and produces a hot spark of large area. If the member 1a is omitted, the same ef ect is secured to a certain extent. In either case the spark is caused to travel to various points of the periphery of the member W.

Hence, while the member WV may be eccentrically' mounted, this eccentric mounting should not be sufficient to cause short-circuiting'when the member W is turned or vibrated.

Ifthe opening in the member has a diameter whichis greater than the thickness of,

the pin 4, this is suflicient to provide the eccentric mounting of the member W which is above mentioned.

The spark plug is shown as being held in the vertical position, and this position is preferred although the invention is not to be limited thereto.

It will be noted that the relative movement between the two electrodes of the spark gap is accomplished without-the use of fans or other auxiliary devices which are intended to r be operated by the movement of the gases in the cylinder of the internal combustion en gine. 7 Likewise, the relative movement be tween the electrodes is accomplished without the aid of auxiliary mechanical devices.

The rapid relative movement between the electrodes which is thus produced, prevents the spark gap from fouling, and it produces a much more intense and effective spark.

The device can likewise be applied at very low cost, and there is nothing to get out of order.

While I prefer to make the member W of uniform structure throughout and to accomplish the eccentric mounting thereof in the manner above mentioned, it would not be departing from the invention if the axis of the pin 4 passed through the central point of the member WV, if the member W were provided with an extension or weight, so that the center of gravity thereof was eccentric with respect to the axis of the pin 4. In either case, the effect of an eccentric mounting of the member lV on the pin l would be secured.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. ii spark plug for an internal combustion engine having a fixed electrode having a curved extension provided with separated tips, a movable electrode which is eccentrically and turnably mounted, the periphery of the movable electrode generally corresponding in shape to the periphery of said extension, so that the spark passes between the periphery of the movable electrode and the periphery of said curved extension.

2. A spark plug for an internal combustion engine having a. fixed electrode, and a movable electrode which is movably mounted, said movable electrooe being mounted so as to have a limited vertical reciprocating movement, said movable electrode comprising a substantially disc-like member having an opening at substantially the central portion thereof, and a supporting pin passing throughsaid opening, the diameter of said supporting pin being less than the diameter of said opening.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

CALOGERO GIBILARO. 

